Mt. San Jacinto College student Deborah Leslie with college Superintendent/President Roger Schultz at the college’s scholarship breakfast May 17, 2012 at the San Jacinto campus. Leslie suffered a stroke in October 2010 and had to relearn to walk and talk. She is studying toward an allied health degree and was guest speaker at the event.

She had to relearn how to walk and talk after a debilitating October 2010 stroke, and earlier this month Deborah Leslie talked about winning struggles a day at a time to get back to college.

The Hemet resident was the featured student speaker at the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation’s 15th annual scholarship breakfast May 17 at the San Jacinto campus.

In all, $109,412 in scholarships were awarded to 134 students in 2011-12 who were recognized at the breakfast. Among the scholarship sources, the foundation awarded $38,107 and community donors awarded $41,305.

Nurses advised Leslie’s grown children that Leslie may have to live in a convalescent home, but she said her heart’s desire was to not give up.

“I am not a typical college student in age or preparation,” Leslie said. “Being a returning student of 50-plus years of age, I cannot afford to be indecisive about knowing what I want to be when I grow up.” She is working on her associate degree in allied health.

Leslie spent two weeks in the hospital and can’t recall much except the wonderful hospital staff attending to her needs and caring for her.

“My motivation to get well has consisted of winning little struggles each day and moving on, but my motivation came from despair,” she said. “I did not want to spend my life cared for by others when I felt capable of handling my own affairs. Love and caring put a smile on my face each day. I knew I could muster the will to improve.”

Leslie has received a $1,000 scholarship from Assistance League of Hemacinto and $550 from the foundation. “It means the world to me to think that someone out there is willing to assist me and others to further their goals,” she said.

Among other scholarship recipients, three Pass area residents were awarded the Sun Lakes Charity Scholarship through the foundation. Jose Jimenez received $1,000; his brother, Heriberto Jimenez received $500; and Kim Darasouk received $500.

The Rotary Club of Menifee awarded $750 individual scholarships to Joseph Stacy, of Wildomar; Katherine Hayes, of San Jacinto; and Jessica Erivez and Noelle White, both of Hemet.

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians awarded student Tiffany Arviso a $250 scholarship.

The foundation is a nonprofit corporation that raises money for scholarships, faculty grants and other philanthropic endeavors. Scholarship awards are based on a student’s academic merit and financial needs. The funds can be used for tuition, books, school supplies or equipment.

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